PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS

RODOLFO V. CASTILLO JR., RCrim., LPT, Ph.D.

MODULE 7

POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS (PCR)

A. Background on Police-Community Relations

Section 2 of the RA 6975 reads:

Sec. 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY – it is hereby declared to be

the policy of the State to promote peace and order, ensure public
safety and further strengthen local government capability aimed
towards the effective delivery of the basic services to the citizenry
through the establishment of a highly efficient and competent
police force that is national in scope and civilian in character.
Towards this end, the state shall bolster a system of
coordination and cooperation among the citizenry, local
executives and the integrated law enforcement and public
safety agencies created under this act.

Said provision was later amended by RA 8551, which reads:

Sec 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY AND PRINCIPLES – it is

hereby declared the policy of the state to establish a highly
efficient and competent police force which is national in scope
and civilian in character administered and controlled by a
National Police Commission.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) shall be a community

and service oriented agency responsible for the maintenance of
peace and order and public safety.

B. PNP VISION

The men and women of the PNP is committed to a vision of a

professional, dynamic and highly motivated Philippine National
Police working in partnership with a responsive community
towards the attainment of a safe place to live, work, invest and do
business with.

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PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS
RODOLFO V. CASTILLO JR., RCrim., LPT, Ph.D.

C. PNP MISSION

To enforce the law, to prevent and control crimes, to maintain

peace and order, and to ensure public safety and internal security
with the active support of the community.

D. DEFINITIONS

✓ POLICE
- A group of persons established, maintained and
organized for keeping order, safety, protection of lives
and property, and for the prevention and detection of
crimes.

✓ COMMUNITY
- Refers to the civilian populace or the public in general,
and shall be used interchangeably with the terms,
public, citizenry, society and private sectors.
- A body of people organized into political, municipal or
social unity or a body of persons living in the same
locality.
- Derived from the Latin word “communis” which means
“common” and “tatis” which means “fellowship”.

✓ POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS
- The sum total of the dealings between the police and the
people it serves, and whose goodwill and cooperation it
craves, for the greatest possible efficiency in the service.
- Refers to the reciprocal attitudes of the police and the
community

✓ PUBLIC RELATIONS
- The act of bringing about better understanding,
confidence and acceptance for an individual or an
organization.

✓ POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS

- The continuing process by which endeavors are made to
obtain the goodwill and cooperation of the public for

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PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS
RODOLFO V. CASTILLO JR., RCrim., LPT, Ph.D.

effective enforcement of the law and accomplishment of

the police purposes.

✓ HUMAN RELATIONS
- Consists of the fundamental rules both moral and legal,
which govern the relationship of men in all aspects of
life.

✓ MEDIA/MASS MEDIA
- The channels through which information is disseminated
to the public.
- May be in form of television, movies, radio or newspaper,
and the like.

✓ PROPAGANDA
- The planned use of mass communication for public
purposes.

✓ POLICE PUBLIC IMAGE

- Refers to how people in the community perceive or
regard the police.

E. FOUNDATION OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS

The foundation of community relations is EFFICIENT

SERVICE.

F. REQUIREMENTS FOR GOOD COMMUNITY RELATIONS

1. Sincerity in serving the public;

2. Full knowledge of the job;
3. Deep conviction in the mobility of his work as a
necessary service to promote individual or national
welfare;
4. Sound police ethics; and
5. High standards of management and operations.

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PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS
RODOLFO V. CASTILLO JR., RCrim., LPT, Ph.D.

G. THREE ASPECTS OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS

1. Community Service
- Activities that provide service to the community
may be in form of medical-dental mission, sports
clinic, feeding programs, seminars, etc.

2. Community Participation
- Involvement of the community in the various social
projects, particularly, in the area of crime
prevention
- Awareness of the community of their role in crime
prevention.

3. Public Relations
- Activities directed at creating and maintaining
favorable impressions to the public.
- Projection of the police public image to the people to
gain their support and cooperation.

H. OBJECTIVES OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS

1. To maintain and develop the goodwill and confidence of
the community for the police;
2. To obtain cooperation and assistance;
3. To develop public understanding and support, and
appreciation for the service of the police;
4. To create broader understanding and sympathy with the
problems and needs of the police;
5. To facilitate law enforcement and compliance;
6. To build public opinion in favor of the police; and
7. To achieve the police purposes of preserving the peace,
protection of life and property, and the prevention of
crime.

I. PRINCIPLES OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS

1. Community support must be maintained.
2. Community resentment must be avoided.
3. Community goodwill must be developed.
4. Community must be kept informed.
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PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS
RODOLFO V. CASTILLO JR., RCrim., LPT, Ph.D.

J. TYPES OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS

1. Public Information Program

- Designed to bridge the communication gap between
the police and the public.

Forms of Media used:

a. Personal Media
- Consists of face-to-face communication , such
as meetings, rallies, delivering speeches and
house-to-house visitation.
b. Mass Media
- Includes printed matter and audio-visual
communications.

2. Public Relations Program

- Designed to maintain harmony and mutual support
between the police and the community.
- Designed to “sell” the police to the public.

3. Civic Action Program

- Designed to maintain and encourage community
development.

4. Psychological Program
- Designed to condition both friendly and hostile
public, ensuring the facilitation of the attainment of
police objectives.

K. DUTIES OF PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

1. He shall issue press releases from time to time regarding
police activities which are public concern;
2. He shall build good image through actual commendable
performance, without inefficiency and corruption; and
3. He shall evaluate public opinion and attitude with
respect to policies, methods, and personnel of the police
stations.

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PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS
RODOLFO V. CASTILLO JR., RCrim., LPT, Ph.D.

L. DUTIES OF A CIVIC ACTION OFFICER

1. He shall encourage and actively participate in athletic
competitions to promote youth development by wisely
coordinating with the social elements of the populace;
2. He shall initiate fund-raising campaigns for juvenile
delinquents who are being rehabilitated;
3. He shall be alert to safeguard the community against
loss and damages to the properties and possible death,
in the events of calamity;
4. He shall render possible assistance, especially to the
men folk in enabling them to obtain the means of
productive endeavors and discourage them from loitering
in the streets or engaging in uneconomic activities, such
as illegal gambling and others.

M.MEASURES TO ENHANCE POLICE PUBLIC IMAGE

1. Increased police visibility through the dispersal of

personnel from the headquarters to the field offices;
2. Efficient and optimized delivery of police services to the
communities;
3. Constant dialogues and meetings with the barangay
officials in their respective territorial jurisdictions;
4. Community service-oriented policing by conducting
seminars for the traffic aides, police aides, and the
barangay tanod; and
5. Coordination with the media for image-enhancing
projects.

N. THE POLICE OFFICER’S INDIVIDUAL AND PROFESSIONAL

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Categories of Individual Public Relations

1. Domestic Relations- Police Officer’s dealing with his

family, parents and immediate relatives.
2. Neighborhood Relations- Police Officer’s dealing with his
neighbors.

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PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS
RODOLFO V. CASTILLO JR., RCrim., LPT, Ph.D.

3. Community Relations- Police Officers’ dealing with

citizens of the community, city or town where he lives, and
his membership or contribution to the civic organization or
community associations in the locality.
4. Church Relations- Police Officer’s dealings with the
religious congregation or faith where he belongs.
5. Government Relations- Police Officer’s dealings with the
government and its instrumentalities.

Categories of Professional Public Relations

1. Intra-Departmental Relations – Police Officers relations

with men and women in his own department, superiors,
the station commanders as well as the city or
municipality mayors where he is assigned.
2. Inter-Departmental Relations – Police Officers relations
with other police agencies.
3. Citizens’ Relations – includes all dealings or contacts
with the citizens in relation to the enforcement of the law
and maintenance of peace and order, together with the
giving of information to the public of criminal and non-
criminal activities.
4. Complainants’ Relation – includes a police officer’s
dealings with complaints, the techniques of interviews,
manner of approach, and treatment of witnesses, as well
as informers or assets.
5. Relation with Accused Persons – consists of proper
treatment of suspects, the recognition of their
constitutional rights during custodial investigation and
the handling of accused persons during confinement.
6. Relations with the State Prosecutors or Fiscals –
includes a peace officer’s duty to cooperate during
preliminary investigations and gatherings of further
evidence when so recovered by the fiscal.
7. Judicial Relations – consists of peace officer’s duties
towards the courts when appearing as witnesses and the
honesty in testimony.
8. Governmental Relations – includes his dealings with
other non police agencies of the government both

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PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS
RODOLFO V. CASTILLO JR., RCrim., LPT, Ph.D.

national and local; in connection with official duties such

as request for verification, coordination, or whatever help
are needed.

O. INTEGRATED POLICE ADVISORY COUNCIL

In order to involve civil officials and the citizenry in the

preservation of peace and order and the promotion of public
safety, there shall be created an advisory council in every
level of the command of the PNP./

Composition of the Integrated Police Advisory Council

1. Local Civil Officials
2. Representatives of the Judiciary
3. Representatives of the Industrial Sector
4. Representatives of the Commercial Sector
5. Representatives of the Agricultural Sector
6. Representatives of the Religious Sector
7. Representatives of the Youth Sector
8. Representatives of the Educational Sector
9. Other Civic organizations

Functions of the Integrated Police Advisory Council

1. To advise the commander on matters pertaining to peace
and order and public safety.
2. To recommend necessary measures to improve the law
enforcement system and public safety conditions
3. To assist the PNP in community relations, and public
information, and in enhancing or promoting citizen’s
involvement in the preservation of peace and order, and
public safety.

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